Removable tool holder for vacuum cleaner



y 29, 1956 o. L. ALLEN 2,747,214

REMOVABLE TOOL HOLDER FOR VACUUM CLEANER Filed April 24, 1853 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 0L r'vsR LRLLEN ATTORN EY May 29, 1956 o. L. ALLEN REMOVABLE TOOL HOLDER FOR VACUUM CLEANER Fil'ed April 24, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N E u R Y 0H m m R E 0 I A L 0 mm gm M May 29, 1956 o. L. ALLEN REMOVABLE TOOL Filed April 24, 1953 HOLDER FOR VACUUM CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR OLIVER LHLLE/V BY /(AM ATTORNEY United States Patent REMOVABLE TOOL HOLDER FOR VACUUM CLEANER Oliver L. Allen, Riverside, Conm, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application April 24, 1953, Serial No. 350,874

4 Claims. (Cl. 15-323) This invention relates to a new and improved device, for use with a conventional tank-type vacuum cleaner and adapted to be removably supported on the top surface of the cleaner and more specifically adapted for holding accessory vacuum cleaner tools.

More particularly, this invention embraces a functionally and structurally improved tool holding device by means of which the operator of a tank type vacuum cleaner maintains his accessory equipment, including his usual cleaning tools, in a more orderly manner and in a more readily accessible and conveniently available arrangement than has heretofore been possible.

Heretofore, a number of devices have been designed to hold cleaning tools, to mount nozzles, support a cleaning hose, etc.; all these devices, however, are subject to many seemingly unavoidable shortcomings, such as will become evident from the objects of the presently embodied invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide tool holding means whereby an operator using a vacuum cleaner may readily and conveniently select any one or more of several cleaning tools he may require or deem necessary to effect acomplete housecleaning.

It is a further prime object of this invention to provide a tool carrier of the above-indicated type by means of which various tools such as brushes, rug cleaning devices, nozzles, etc., may be displayed and rendered immediately accessible to the operator with a minimum of effort on his part.

'Still another object is to provide a tool carrier which will hold the various cleaning implements securely and eliminate any possibility of accidental dislodgement or detachment in use.

A further object is to provide a tool holder which may be located in any one of two or more positions on the back of a tank-type cleaner without necessitating trial fittings in any of its various positions.

Still another object is to provide a tool carrier which 'in one of its mounted positions can be placed over the electrical plug receptacle assembly and thus serves as an additional safety or precautionary means for sealing off access to electrical contact-making blades and plug elements.

Still other and variously otherwise important objects will become apparent upon reading the following description of one embodiment of this invention which will suggest various other and similar objects to those versed in the related art.

With these objects in view, the invention is more particularly described herein as embodied in a tool holding rack which is removably mountable upon the upper portion or back of a tank type vacuum cleaner. Such a specialized use, however, is to be understood as merely illustrative and not limitative of this invention which may be variously otherwise used or even used independently of the cleaner as a tool holder per se.

The improvements and advantages of this invention 2,747,214 Patented May 29, 1956 Ice are more readily appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming an illustrative part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tool-holder (tools removed) shown mounted over the electrical plug receptacle assembly, a more or less preferred position on the top side of a conventional tank-type cleaner, towards the rear thereof;

Figure 2 is a similar perspective of the cleaner illustrating an alternative mounting of the tool holder on such a cleaner;

Figure 3 is a complete top plan view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 indicating that of Fig. 2 in broken lines;

Figure 4 is a partial side elevation of Fig. 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Fig. 4 with portions of the cleaner housing broken away, the electrical plug assembly being shown in section thereby illustrating the superpositioning of the tool holder (as an added safety measure) over the closed plug assembly cover;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the rear end of Fig. 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail in perspective of one of the latching means for securing the tool holder to the top of the cleaner housing;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the showing in Fig. 7;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail in top plan of the latching means of Fig. 7 in body entrant position, a portion of the top trim assembly being broken away to represent more accurately the relationship or alignment of its members when in latched position; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view along line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, a housing 10 of a conventional tank-type vacuum cleaner has suitably secured thereto a pair of runners 12 which support the cleaner in a substantially horizontal position. One end of housing 10 forms a dust container compartment opening in a substantially vertical plane and provided with a closure member 16. This closure member 16 comprises a portion 18 pivotally mounted to a front cover ring 22, and when opened extending anteriorly from the housing lit). A hose connector element 24 is pivotally carried by the portion 18 of closure member 16 and is adapted to orient the hose connector 24 in paralleled position throughout its traveled are.

A top trim member 26 appropriately secured to the upper portion of housing 10 together with the latter serves as a foundation support for the saddle-like tool-holder 30. The tool-holder 36 is securely mounted on top of the vacuum cleaner by fastening means which removably engage over a portion of their upper surfaces the lower surfaces of slot and/or grooves cut or formed in the lateral surfaces of top trim 26.

The saddle-like tool holding device 30, shown in the various figures without the cleaning tools fitted thereon, comprises a rigid metallic plate member or sheet 31 sub stantially arcuate in cross-section, but preferably conforming closely to the contour of the top trim member 26 while depending lateral wings 33 and 34 lie in a close fit over a portion of the upper surface of cleaner body housing 10. A cut-out portion 35, Figs. 1 and 2, is provided for the passage therethrough of protruding handle 15.

This tool-holder 30 is securely anchored in place by pressing, inwardly, rotatable thumb and finger latching members 40, Figs. 7, 8 and 9. These latching members are pie or sector-shaped elements 42 pivotally mounted at 44 to wings 33 and when in holding positions, upwardly swept inclined edges 46 press tightly in a snug of the cleaner (see Figs. 1, 3, and 6), the tool-holder 30 serves as an added security for the prevention of tampering with or accidental Withdrawal of electrical connecting plug 61 from contact blades 62, since the upper surface of tool-holder 31, Fig. 5, directly overlies cover 64 of connecting plug assembly 60.

In Figs. 1 and 7 sector-shaped body 42 enters the rear portion of slot 50, while in Fig. 2 it enters the front portion.

A mottled paint coat or similar covering for tool holder 30 enhances its appearance, rendering it practically indistinguishable from the housing 10 of the vacuum cleaner body assembly.

As shown, spring clamps 30a and 30b, riveted securely to wing 34, serve to hold a large cleaning tool, such as a rug cleaner nozzle, while spring clamp 30c, riveted to wing 33, may hold a floor brush. Spring clamp 30d serves to hold a dusting brush and clamps 302 and 30 all riveted to sheet member 31 hold an upholstery cleaner. Oddly shaped spring clamp 30g is adapted to support a radiator or similar narrow space cleaner. All these spring clamps are adapted to enter the interior of the necks of their respective cleaning tools, thereby securing them in a readily accessible position on the back of the vacuum cleaner assembly.

It is to be noted that this new type tool holder is capable of many and various uses. Thus it may be readily mounted on the top of a conventional cylindrical or tank type vacuum cleaner and just as readily removed. It may be placed in either one of the positions shown in Fig. l and Fig. 2. Moreover, the tool holder may be used by itself as a supporting base for holding the tools in a readily accessible space in a closet, while it is supported on a conventional hook by means of strap 70. Alternatively, the entire unit, tool holder mounted on the vacuum cleaner, may be hung by means of strap 70.

It is to be understood that the example shown in the appended drawings and described in this specification is merely illustrative and not limitative of the scope of this invention which is to be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination together with a tank-type vacuum cleaner having a normally horizontally disposed casing, a top trim member, a handle, and an electrical plug receptacle including a pivoted cover openable for the insertion and removal of an electric plug of a plate member having a cross-section conforming substantially with the upper surface of said cleaner, said plate member having a slot for accommodating said handle and a portion adjacent said slot superpositionable over said plug cover assembly to prevent opening of said pivotedcover, attaching means on said plate member for securing the latter to said top trim member, and a plurality of holding members mounted upon said plate member in a manner to retain cleaning tools for said vacuum cleaner in close proximity to said casing.

2. The combination together with a tank-type vacuum cleaner having a normally horizontally disposed casing, a top trim member, a handle, and an electrical plug cover assembly, of a holder for attachments for use with the cleaner, comprising a plate member mountable over said plug cover assembly whereby said assembly is secured against release, said plate member being mountable over the upper portion of said casing and of a configuration to lie upon and closely conform to said portion of the casing, said plate member having a slot for accommodating said handle, attaching means on said plate member for securing the latter upon said casing, said attaching means comprising a pair of sector elements pivoted on said plate member, and a pair of slots cut in said top trim member and adapted to receive said sector elements whereby said plate member is securely held to said casing, and a plurality of holding members mounted upon said plate member in a manner to retain cleaning tools for said vacuum cleaner in close proximity to said casing.

3. The combination together with a tank-type vacuum cleaner having a normally horizontally disposed casing, a top trim member, a handle having two ends each attached to said top member, an electrical plug cover assembly adjacent one end of said handle, and an upper surface of the top trim member adjacent the other end of said handle, both said cover assembly and said upper surface having substantially the same cross-sectional configurations, a tool holder comprising a plate member having a configuration to lie upon and closely conform with said cross-sectional configurations, said plate member having a slot for accommodating said handle and attaching means for securing said plate upon said casing, said attaching means comprising a pair of sector elements pivoted on said plate member and having a vertical offset portion along one edge thereof, and a pair of slots cut in said top trim member having a center portion cut higher than the neighboring sides of said slot and dividing the slot into a front portion and a rear portion, said center portion being adapted to receive the vertical ofiset portion of said sector whereby said plate member is securely held to said casing, the rear portion of said slots being adapted to receive said sector elements when said plate member is superposed over said plug cover assemby and the front portion of said slots being adapted to receive said sector elements when said plate member is superposed over said upper surface of the top trim member.

4. The combination with a tank-type vacuum cleaner having a normally horizontally disposed casing, a top trim member, a handle, an electrical plug receptacle including a pivoted cover openable for insertion and removal of an electric plug, of a holder for attachments for use with the cleaner, comprising a plate member mountable over said plug cover assembly to prevent opening of said pivoted cover, said plate member being mountable over the upper portion of said casing and of a configuration to lie upon and closely conform to said portion of the casing, said plate member having a slot for accommodating said handle, attaching means on said plate member for securing the latter upon said casing, said attachment comprising a pair of sector elements pivoted on said plate member, and a pair of slots cut in said top trim member and adapted to receive said sector elements whereby said plate member is securely held to said casing, and a plurality of holding members mounted upon said plate member in a manner to retain cleaning tools for said vacuum cleaner in close proximity to said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,293,859 Scott Aug. 25, 1942 2,335,460 Smellie Nov. 30, 1943 2,450,172 Stoner Sept. 28, 1948 2,649,606 Fadner Aug. 25, 1953 

